My Baby Keeps Eating Dirt and Sand
The short answer
Babies and toddlers explore the world by putting everything in their mouths, including dirt and sand. Small tastes are very common and usually not harmful. However, soil can contain parasites, bacteria, pesticides, or lead, so it should be discouraged. If your child repeatedly seeks out and eats large amounts of dirt, this could be pica, which may indicate a nutritional deficiency like iron.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Babies this age do not typically encounter dirt or sand as they are not yet mobile.
As babies begin to sit and reach for things, they may encounter outdoor materials. Supervise closely during outdoor play.
Crawling babies are magnets for dirt, sand, and other ground-level materials. They will put everything in their mouth. Redirect consistently and keep play areas as clean as possible.
The mouthing stage continues. Baby will taste dirt and sand if given the opportunity. Supervise outdoor play closely and redirect to appropriate items. A small taste is unlikely to cause harm.
Toddlers are curious and may deliberately eat dirt or sand during outdoor play. Redirect firmly but gently. If your toddler seeks out and eats large amounts of non-food items repeatedly, discuss with your pediatrician. Iron deficiency screening may be appropriate.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Baby tastes dirt or sand once and spits it out
- Baby puts everything in their mouth including outdoor materials during the normal mouthing phase
- Toddler occasionally gets sand in their mouth at the playground
- Child repeatedly and deliberately eats dirt or sand in large amounts
- Child seeks out non-food items to eat regularly which may be pica
- You are concerned about the safety of the soil in your area regarding lead or chemicals
- Child has eaten dirt in an area known to be contaminated with lead or chemicals
- Child develops symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain after eating dirt
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
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Related Feeding Concerns
My Baby Eats Non-Food Items (Pica)
It is completely normal for babies and young toddlers to explore by putting objects in their mouths. True pica, which is the persistent eating of non-food substances, is uncommon before age two and may be linked to iron deficiency or developmental factors. If your child repeatedly seeks out and eats non-food items past the typical mouthing stage, it is worth discussing with your pediatrician.
My Baby Ate a Houseplant or Leaves
Many common houseplants can be mildly to severely toxic to babies. If your baby eats a plant, try to identify it and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. Remove any remaining plant material from baby's mouth. Even if a plant is considered non-toxic, it may cause mouth irritation or stomach upset. Keep all houseplants out of reach of babies and toddlers.
Is My Toddler at Risk for Iron Deficiency?
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in toddlers. Risk factors include drinking more than 24 ounces of milk daily, a diet low in iron-rich foods, picky eating, and a history of prematurity. The AAP recommends screening for iron deficiency at 12 months. Symptoms include pallor, fatigue, poor appetite, and irritability.
When to Introduce Allergens to Baby
Current guidelines recommend introducing common allergens (peanut, egg, cow's milk products, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, sesame) starting around 4-6 months when your baby is developmentally ready for solids. The landmark LEAP study showed that early introduction of peanuts (by 4-6 months) reduced peanut allergy risk by 80% in high-risk infants. Do not delay allergens - the old advice to wait until 1-3 years has been reversed because early exposure actually prevents allergies.
I'm Worried My Baby Is Aspirating During Feeds
Aspiration means liquid or food enters the airway instead of the stomach. Occasional coughing during feeds is common and does not usually indicate aspiration. True aspiration is less common and may present as recurrent respiratory infections, a wet or gurgly voice after feeds, or chronic cough. If you are concerned, a swallow study can provide a definitive answer.
Could My Baby Be Aspirating During Feeding?
Aspiration occurs when food or liquid enters the airway instead of the esophagus. Signs include coughing or choking during every feed, a wet or gurgly voice after eating, recurrent chest infections, and breathing changes during meals. Silent aspiration can occur without obvious coughing. If you suspect aspiration, contact your pediatrician as a swallowing study can diagnose it.